Messi's display left Valverde struggling to find the right words, the 31-year-old having become the first player in Europe's top-five leagues this season to reach double figures for goals and assists.

"I don't know how to label him. I don't know how to answer the most repeated question," he said.

"He's the one who makes us play, who gives us amazing goals ... we just have to enjoy him."

Barca had looked a little uncertain before Suarez's opener 35 minutes in, with Valverde forced to reshuffle his side into a makeshift 3-5-2 after Nelson Semedo was ruled out with injury at the last minute.

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"The line-up was conditioned by Semedo," he admitted. "It was a solution that was determined by injuries.

"We thought Nelson was going to play. They are used to a quick counter-attack and we had to control those situations. It cost us in the middle of the pitch, but in the second half we had total control."